Agenda

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Committee Management System

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Members may wish to save this link on their computer or mobile devices. Queries concerning login and password details for the extranet should be addressed to the Democratic Services Manager.

Constitution

The Council’s Constitution is available at:

https://rds.eppingforestdc.gov.uk/ieListMeetings.aspx?CId=638&Info=1

Queries concerning the Constitution should be addressed to the Democratic Services Manager

ECC Highways Portal

Up to date details of all Highways work is available at:

https://www.essexhighways.org/Transport-and-Roads.aspx

We will be updating Members with key information from the Leadership team  each week. Should you require further information please contact MemberContact in the usual way.

·         Latest EFDC Staffing Position

o   59 people in isolation of whom 20 show Covid-19 symptoms.

o   32 people returned to work.

o   427 remotely connected users.

o   16.5% load on ICT connectivity

·         ICT van redeployed from equipment delivery to Cat B food delivery.

·         Virtual meeting of Cabinet on 15 April to held in MS Teams and Public I Webcaster.

·         Business Grants – cheques being sent out – about £1million by end of Thursday.

·         Revs and Bens and Contact Centre OK at moment

·         Council Tax income down only marginally on this period last year. Further comparisons to be done in coming weeks.

·         Potential upsurge in Cat B calls anticipated in coming days. However, Cat B experience where letters have gone out in Brentwood and Basildon not producing very large number of calls.

·         Still awaiting Operation Shield Cat B text out. Cat B are decided by NHS records held on the residents health, the GP surgeries will be sending these text messages out.

·         Have received Cat A names – of 272 residents 103 have special dietary requirements. EFDC distribution hub at Epping Sports centre supplied by wholesalers. Only able to provide standard food packages. Cat A are residents that have been identified as Extremely Vulnerable by the NHS records held.  

·         Contact between repairs staff and tenants kept to minimum – using mobile phones and asking tenants to stay in other rooms while urgent repairs carried out. Repairs staff taking vehicles home and receiving job allocations at home.

·         As a public service – EFDC cannot furlough staff – expected to continue pay.

·         Two cases of coronavirus identified in Council sheltered housing schemes – one resident passed away in hospital.

·         Communal areas of sheltered schemes to be closed.

·         Police traffic orders to close access to parts of Epping Forest inc High Beach over Bank Holiday.

·         Bank Holiday refuse and recycling arrangements to be advertised on website.

Members are advised of the following changes to service provision within the Regulatory Service that have been brought about as a result of the Coronavirus emergency:

Business and Corporate Team: responsibility for food safety, health and safety and public health

Routine food safety and health and safety inspections have been put on hold as the Team now concentrate on ensuring that businesses comply with the new Coronavirus Regulations, that require the closure of premises and businesses and restrictions on movement and gatherings. Environmental Health officers, Licensing Team and Police are working closely to share information and support each other. An Essex-wide protocol has been developed between the Police and Local Authorities to ensure good communication and a consistent enforcement approach.

The Team are communicating with businesses by telephone and email, answering enquiries that arise and carrying out proactive and reactionary checks to ensure compliance.

The Council has powers to serve prohibition notices, issue fixed penalty notices (FPN) and prosecute if necessary and procedures and notices are prepared for use. However, in accordance with Government guidelines, a proportionate and graduated approach to enforcement is being adopted and officers will be encouraging and persuading businesses to comply in the first instance. If a business continues to breach enforcement action will be taken. At the time of drafting this article, it has not been necessary to issue any prohibition notices or FPN.

Licensing Act

As a result of the Covid-19 outbreak and the escalated requirements to avoid personal contact wherever possible, the Licensing Team continue to take enquiries and deal with all Licensing Act applications, but no inspections to premises are being carried out.

The Team are working closely with the Police and Environmental Health Officers to ensure that the Licensed trade comply with the requirements imposed by covid-19.

The licensed trade has been contacted by email to reinforce the rules and expectations during this emergency. This is followed by further communication and liaison with the police and EHOs where information is received or allegations made, about breaches of the Regulations, including the prohibition of sale of alcohol as part of a takeaway service where there is no off-sale licence.

Licensing Officers are not directly involved in the enforcement of the Coronavirus Regulations, but officers are making it clear to businesses that failure to comply with the Regulations could potentially lead to revocation of their licence.

Taxi Licensing

The following service for the Taxi trade has been suspended until further notice:

·         Thursday taxi plate and badge pickup

·         Processing of new Taxi Licence Applications

·         The Taxi Knowledge Test

·         Temporary and Permanent Vehicle Transfers, except Emergency Transfers

·         All other taxi appointments that involve face to face contact.

The Taxi Renewal service is suspended for the time being. However, in order that drivers can continue to trade, after their existing licence has expired, Temporary Paper Licences are being issued and posted out as required. These must be displayed in the vehicle; they must be visible to passengers, and available as proof of legitimacy if challenged by  ...  view the full agenda text for item 2.

Please see attached details of the Local Authorities, Police Coronovirus Flexibility Reg 2020 which came into force on 4 April 2020.

Please see attached.

None this week

None this week

1.            Appeals Lodged

EPF/2200/19 The Cottage Epping Long Green Epping Uplands Epping CM16 6QN - Demolition of an existing single storey side extension, erection of a single storey side/rear extension and erection of a 2- storey side and rear extension with refurbishment. (Revised application to EPF/1273/19) Caroline Brown ext. 4182 – Householder appeal

2.         Forthcoming Planning Inquiries/Hearings -

Hearing – 8^th and 9^th July 2020 – EPF/3174/18 – Old Epping Laundry Site Bower Hill Epping CM16 7AD - Demolition of existing buildings and the erection of 58 no. residential units split between four blocks, along with internal landscaping and associated car and cycle  – Sukhi Dhadwar ext. 4597

3.            Enforcement Appeals

None this week

4.            Appeal Decisions

EPF/0997/19 – Mays Wish Foster Street Hastingwood CM17 9HR - Change of use of the agricultural land to a B8 use and erection of a  Marquee/ Storage Unit for a temporary period of 2 years.(Retrospective) – Dismissed

EPF/1865/19 – 47 Oak Lodge Avenue Chigwell IG7 5JA - Dormer extension to the rear and a new gable roof in order to convert existing loft space (65 sq m) into habitable living space – Allowed with conditions.

5.         Tree Preservation Orders

None this week

6.         S106 Agreements

None this week

7.         Changes to Planning Systems

None this week

The notification of decisions taken by individual Portfolio Holders is no longer included in the Council Bulletin.

All members of the Council receive automatic email notification of the publication of each individual Portfolio Holder decision and the call-in period for each decision commences immediately. Members wishing to call-in a decision should complete the attached call-in form and return it to Democratic Services before the expiry of five working days following the publication date of the decision. Members should refer to the Constitution (Article 6 - Overview and Scrutiny) for the rules of call-in.